Porter, Wall lead Wizards past Pacers, 111-98.

This had all the makings of a potential letdown game for the Wizards but silly me for doubting them. Washington beats Indiana 111-98 in their final game before the All-Star break for their 34th win of the season. Otto Porter led the Wizards in scoring with 25 points on 6-10 shooting from three-point range while Markieff Morris continued his tear with 21 points and seven rebounds.

Otto Porter was on fire to start the game. The NBA’s leading three-point shooter knocked down his first three three-pointers of the game. Things were going so well for Otto that the bank stayed open late as he heaved this shot off the glass for his fifth three-pointer of the first period as the Wizards led 34-27.

Like we’ve become accustomed to, the starters built up a lead up to 10; but the bench came right in and blew it. The Pacers started the quarter on an 8-3 run forcing Brooks to reinsert his starters back in earlier than he probably would have liked to.

The Wizards led by 19 at one point, 62-43 but once again, Indiana was able to counter with a 9-0 run but the Wizards still led by 10 at halftime.

Things got a little uneasy during the third quarter as Paul George started to get hot. George, who made just two baskets in the first half hit his first two shots of the third quarter to get started. But this time, it was the Wizards turn to counter with a run. Threes from Morris, Beal and Burke helped the Wizards regain control as they enjoyed a 90-77 lead entering the fourth quarter.

And in methodical fashion, the Wizards answered every single punch thrown their way in the fourth quarter to close this one out 111-98.

After a horrific 2-8 start to the season, the Wizards find themselves in the 3-seed out east with a record of 34-21 at the All-Star break. Not too shabby.

A first quarter to remember for Otto Porter

Porter, the league’s best three-point shooter, put on a show in the first quarter. Wall found Otto in the corner as he hit his first three to start the game. The basket looked like an ocean for Porter as he continued to let it fly and the shots kept falling. Otto connected on his first three three-pointers in the period and was 5-6 overall in the first quarter.

The Markieff Morris tear continues

After a somewhat quiet first half, Morris came out firing in the second half as he hit his first three-pointer as well as several fadeaways near the basket when matched up against smaller players. Morris ended the night with 21 points on 8-12 shooting and snatched seven rebounds. Morris was a key contributor for the Wizards in the second half as he provided them with timely buckets as the Wizards started to pull away.